Cavs notes: Byron Scott says it's on players to give full effort

After his team's lackluster performance in Philadelphia on Sunday, the first game of a back-to-back set, he called for a rare shootaround on Monday.

"I'm not throwing in the towel," Scott said. "I want them to know the season is not over."

Scott said he doesn't think it's a reflection on him or his coaching staff when his players fail to give effort like they did against the 76ers.

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"To be honest, I don't think so," he said. "As a coach, all you can do is prepare the guys to play, give them a game plan and they have to follow it.

"I don't think it's a reflection on me or the coaching staff. We can't play for them."

Scott said he doesn't understand it when the players don't play hard. In his opinion, they get paid to play hard.

He benched all five starters for the entire fourth quarter in Philadelphia.

"I can't control how hard you play," Scott said. "I can control how much you play."

Heat check

Six prominent Heat players were held out of Monday's contest, including forward LeBron James, guard Dwyane Wade and center Chris Bosh. Others who didn't play were forward Shane Battier, forward Udonis Haslem and guard Mario Chalmers.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra took the decision out of James' hands about whether he was going to play.

"I know this is a special place for him," Spoelstra said. "I don't care. I didn't ask."

James has been bothered by a sore hamstring.

"We're focusing on getting our bodies right," the Heat coach said. "He had some tightness after last night. He's getting some work with the trainers to strengthen his leg."

Milestone season

If James' season is over, as expected, he averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists. He shot a career-high 56.5 percent from the field.

"He's in the physical prime of his career," Spoelstra said. "Who knows how much better he can be."

Horrifying news

Spoelstra said he was shocked by the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday.

"It becomes more horrific by the minute," he said.

Scott also sent his condolences to the people in Boston.

"My hearts and prayers are with them," he said.

Injury report

Swingman C.J. Miles remains out of the lineup with a concussion. He's nearing the end of the NBA protocol guidelines, but he's running out of time to play this season.

"He still has to go through some contact," Scott said.

He was active for Monday's game, but wouldn't play.

Also, power forward Luke Walton (sprained ankle) was sidelined. He was given the Austin Carr Good Guy Award before the game. He said he would put it in between his two NBA championship rings at his house.

The Cavs wanted to limit guard Dion Waiters' minutes to about 25.

Guard Shaun Livingston (back spasms) said he would play.

Jones' surge

Forward Kevin Jones recorded the first double-double of his career on Sunday with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"Kevin is playing pretty well," Scott said. "He's solid. He doesn't do anything to hurt you. He plays hard. That makes up for lack of experience."

Jones probably deserves an invitation to training camp next year, if nothing else.

Quick shots

-- The Heat are the first defending champion to have the best overall record in the NBA since the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls.

-- Miami's 64 wins are the third-most by a defending champ. Only the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (69 wins) and the 1991-92 Bulls (67) are better.

-- The Heat are 37-3 this year in the games in which forward Chris

Andersen has played (before Monday). That's a personal winning percentage of .925. No player with at least 40 games played in a season has ever finished with a higher winning percentage. The last players to finish a season with a .900-or-better personal winning percentage were Luc Longley (56-6, .903) and Dicky Simpkins (54-6, .900) for the 1995-96 Bulls.

-- The fifth installment of Hannah Storm's series, "Face to Face with Hannah Storm," debuts at 9 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2 with an in-depth look at several elite NBA point guards. She spent time at Cleveland Clinic Courts interviewing Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving. The two take in the sights and sounds of the city while Irving explains how the Cavs can return to winning ways without James.